Invalid chair

ABSTRACT

An invalid chair having a seat back hinged to the back of the seat and a lower frame hinged to the front of the seat to form an extensible assembly which is pivoted to a main support frame, the seat being spring loaded in a direction to extend the assembly of frames so that an invalid is assisted from the seat on to his feet, the assembly also being positionable in a recumbent position so that the chair functions as a bed.

I United States Patent 1151 3,640,566 Hodge 1 Feb. 8, 197 2 [54] INVALIDCHAIR 2,500,742 3/1950 Taylor ..5/68 3,095,235 6/1967 Babcock et al......297/68 [721 Invent: ii fz 'g PM 3,414,324 12/1968 Taylor et a1..297/71 x [731 Assignees: Hodge Investments Pty. Ltd.; Hodg Db FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS tributors Pty. Ltd-. Port Lincoln, South 711,9282/1931 France ..297/68 Australia 878,022 9/1961 Great Britain ..297/95[22] Filed: Oct. 7, 1969 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam 211 pp No:864,424 Attomey-Oldham & Oldham 57 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign ApplicationPriority Data 1 v An invalid chair having a seat back hinged to the backof the Oct. 11, 1968 Australia ..44,652/68 Seat and a lower frame hingedto the from of the Seat to form an extensible assembly which is pivotedto a main support [52] [1.8. CI. ..297/68, 5/68 frame the Seat beingSpring loaded in a direction to extend the [51] Int. Cl. ....A47c l/02,A61g 15/00, A61g 7/06 assembly of frames so that an invalid is assistedfr h Seat 58 mm 61 Search ..297/68, 71, 83, 86, 90, 91; on to his f tthe assembly also being positionable in a 5/ 81 bent position so thatthe chair functions as a bed.

[56] References Cited 6 Claims, 7 Drawuig Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS2,053,852 9/1936 Tracy ..29 7/I)IG. 4

PATENTEUFEB a 1912 3.640.568

sum em 5 Ziy (0,64%mw y [264% PAIENIEDFEB elm 3 e40 566 sum .a-orsPAIENETEUFEB a 1912 SHEET '4 [IF 5 ym-541 [01/ xi 7,489

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SHEET S-UF'S INVALID CHAIR This invention relates to a chair which issuitable for general use, but particularly for use by invalids who havedifficulty in moving their joints and in exercising their limbs, and mayinclude, but is not limited to a wheel chair.

It is known that arthritics have great difficulty in changing position,for example from a seated position to a standing position, and the mainobject of this invention is to provide a chair wherein at least some ofthe weight of a user is counterbalanced so that the chair will assist auser in changing from a seated to a standing position.

The invention may in one of its forms consist of a chair having a seatframe, a back frame hingedly connected to the rear end of the seatframe, a lower frame hingedly connected to the front end of the seatframe to fonn with the seat and back frames an extensible assembly, linkmeans further interconnecting said frames, a main support frame, hingemeans hingedly connecting one of the frames of said extensible assemblyto the main support frame, and spring means operatively connecting oneof the frames of said extensible assembly to the main frame and urgingthe frames of said extensible assembly towards their relatively extendedpositions. A chair constructed according to this invention may beoperated with very little effort by the body movements of a user, andthe spring means will be of assistance to a user moving from a seated toa standing position, as the frames which constitute the extensibleassembly move correspondingly from a relatively retracted to arelatively extended position.

it is desirable for an arthritic or other invalid to be able to exerciselegs and ankles while in a seated position, but the patients feet shouldbe supported by a footrest. It is of course desirable that the footrestshould not be moveable when the patient is in a standing position, andfurther desirable that the footrest position should be as low aspossible so that the step height is small.

To achieve these objects the invention may although not necessarilyinclude as one of its further features a relatively moveable pressureplate on the lower frame engaged by a pressure imparting member on alink hinged to the seat frame, the pressure imparting member howeverbeing moved out of engagement with the pressure plate as the seat frameis lowered from an extended to a retracted position.

When a patient is sitting upright in a chair it is desirable that theheadrest should be in approximately the same plane as the backrest, butwhen the patient is lying on a support, it is desirable that theheadrest should be elevated relative to the backrest, and to achievethis object this invention may include as a still further feature aheadrest frame hinged to a backrest frame but arranged to be securedthereto in any one of a plurality of positions.

It will be seen that the invention may be applied either to a mobile oran immobile chair, and the mobile chair could for example be awheelchair arranged to be operated by a patient. However, an embodimentof the invention when applied to a simple mobile chair arranged to beoperated by a person other than a patient is described hereunder in somedetail with reference to and is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a chair with the frames ofits extensible assembly arranged in a retracted position (for a patientwhen seated),

FIG. 2 is a corresponding diagrammatic view showing the frames of theextensible assembly arranged in an elevated extended position (for apatient when moving to or from a standing position),

FIG. 3 is a further corresponding diagrammatic view showing the framesin a horizontal extended position (for a patient in a recumbentposition),

FIG. 4 is an elevation illustrating the frames and linkage mechanism ofthe chair,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the chair in its elevated extendedposition,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of portion of the lower frame of the chairshowing the pressure imparting member firstly in a position ofdisengagement from the pressure plate, and secondly in a position ofengagement, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing adjustment means for adjustment ofthe angle of the back frame relative to the seat frame.

In this embodiment a main support frame 10 supported by wheels 11 isprovided with aligned main pivots 12 one on each side, the main pivotsbeing disposed forwardly. on the main frame 10, and the seat frameportion of an extensible assembly 13 is pivoted about these pivots 12 tothe main frame, and supported by the pivots.

The extensible assembly 13 comprises a seat frame 16, a back frame 17hingedly connected to the rear end of the seat frame 16 about the pivot18, and a lower frame 19 pivotally connected to the front end of theseat frame about the pivots 20. The back frame 17 includes a headrest21, and the lower frame 19 includes a footrest 22. This entire assemblypivots as a whole about the main pivots 12 on the main support frame 10.

A pair of seat frame-lifting levers 26 are pivoted between theirrespective ends on the pivots 27 on the main frame 10, the rear. endsbeing provided with rollers 28 which engage the underface of the seatframe 16. The front ends are connected to the front ends of rearwardlyand downwardly sloping lifting springs 29 (not shown in FIG. 3). Therear lower ends of the lifting springs 29 are anchored to an anchor bar30 carried by the main frame 10, and having a position adjustment screw31 on the end of a crank arm 32, to provide tension adjustment meanswhich are used to ensure the lifting spring 29 correctly counterbalancesthe weight of a user.

The footrest 22 is hinged near its rear end to the lower frame 19 aboutpivots 38, the footrest having a rearwardly projecting arm 39 which isconnected to a pressure imparting arm 40 by a link 41. The arm 40 ispivoted at its one end to the main frame 10 about the main pivot 12, andcarries a pressure roller 42 at its lower end, the arm 40 further beingconnected to downward extensions 44 of the back frame 17 by the link 45,which cooperates with the seat frame 16 to form a parallel arm type ofinterconnection between the back frame 17 and the lower frame 19. Asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this retains approximately the same relationshipof the frames of the extensible assembly 13 for the upright andrecumbent positions of a patient, and any required slight variation isarranged by simply deviating from the parallel conditions.

A seat back lift spring 48 connects the arm 40 to the main frame 10, andbecomes extended when the arm 40 moves forwardly as shown in FIG. 3, sothat a patient when in the recumbent position is assisted from thatposition to a sitting position by this spring. The rear face of thelower frame 19 is provided with a pressure plate 50 which is engaged bythe pressure roller 42 carried on the lower end of the pressureimparting arm, the arrangement being that the pressure imparting armprevents swinging of the footrest if the extensible assembly 13 isextended, but permits swinging of the footrest if retracted as in FIG.1, thereby stabilizing the footrest when a patient is to move outwardlyfrom the chair from a seated to a standing position. The linkage on thefootrest is so arranged that it lays the footrest over at a comfortableangle for the feet of a patient when the chair is in any of itspositions. When the upper frame is canted forward from vertical with theseat frame horizontal, the footrest is free to swing thus enabling thepatient to exercise feet and legs (see FIG. 6).

The rear end of the seat frame is hinged to the upper frame as describedabove, and the linkage is such that the upper frame is sloping forwardlyand upwardly when the extensible assembly is in its extended positionbut rearwardly and upwardly when it is in its reclining position. Thelinkage further lowers the upper frame to be substantially in the sameplane as the seat frame when the chair is lowered right back for a patient to occupy a horizontal position.

When the upper frame is in a substantially horizontal position, theheadrest hinged to the upper frame may be adjusted to a slightly raisedposition if this is desired.

It is desirable for a patient to be able to regulate the relative anglebetween the seat frame and the upper frame and to retain those twoframes at that angle, and to achieve this a notched plate 54 is includedon the back frame 17 (FIG. 7) and this is engaged by a latch 55 on ahand lever 56, the latch 55 simply moving into a notch to preventrelative movement and being released therefrom to allow relativemovement as the frames vary in their angular relationship, the latch 55automatically disengaging from its notch as the chair moves to itsupstanding extended position (FIG. 2) by engaging a striker plate (notshown) on the frame 10. v a

To enable the extensible assembly 13 to occupy a retracted position, themain support frame is provided with support brackets 57 which supportthe seat frame in its retracted position, and are engaged by respectivecomplementary latches 58 (F104) coupled to release levers 59 by links60.

In this embodiment the seat frame is provided with an aperture (notshown) disposed centrally,'and the seat cushion 64 (FIG. 5) is a loosecushion positioned on the seat frame to cover the aperture, which isalso provided with a lift-out panel (not shown). A shelf (not shown) ispositioned on the main frame but beneath the seat frame when in itshorizontal position, and this then enables the chair to be used as acommode. The arms may (if desired) be arranged to retain a table.

I claim:

1. A chair having a seat frame, pivot means connecting the rear end ofthe seat frame to a back frame, further pivot means connecting the frontend of the seat frame to a lower frame, link means between the backframe and the lower frame limiting relative angular relationshiptherebetween upon tilting of the seat frame, a footstool, pivot meansconnecting the footstool to the lower end of the lower frame, link meansbetween the footstool and a said frame limiting angular movement of thefootstool upon tilting of the seat frame, said footstool and framesconstituting an extensible assembly which in its extended position hassaid frames more nearly in alignment than when in its retractedposition, a main support frame, main pivots between the seat frame andthe main support frame, support brackets on the main frame supportingthe seat frame when said extensible assembly is in its retractedposition, a seat frame lifting lever, pivot means pivotally supportingsaid lever on the main frame, means on the lever engaging the undersurface of the seat frame, a tension spring connected at its respectiveends to the lifting lever and the main frame urging the seat frameupwardly and forwardly thereby in turn urging the frames of saidextensible assembly towards their relatively extended positions.

2. A chair having a seat frame, a back frame, first hinge meansconnecting the back frame to the rear end of the seat frame, a lowerframe, further hinge means connecting the lower frame to the front endof the seat frame to form with the seat and back frames an extensibleassembly, link means further interconnecting said frames, a main supportframe, main pivots connecting one of the frames of said extensibleassembly to the main support frame, a seat frame lifting lever, pivotmeans pivotally supporting said lever on the main frame,

means on the lever engaging an under surface of the seat frame, andspring means connected to the lifting lever and to the main frame tourge the seat frame upwardly and forwardly thereby in turn urging theframes of said extensible assembly towards their relatively extendedpositions said link 'means includes a link, first pivot means pivotallyconnecting the rear end of the link to a downward extension of the backframe, a second link means including a link arm pivotally connected tothe seat frame and extending downwardly therefrom: further pivot meansoperatively and pivotally connecting the front end of the link to thelink arm and including a member pivotally operatively connecting to thelower frame and to the link arm between its connections to the seatframe and to the linkthe distance between said first hinge means andsaid further hinge means being a little greater than the distancebrackets secured to the main frame and positioned to support the seatframe when in its retracted position, and latch means on the seat frameand main frame cooperating to releasably' retain the seat frame in itsretracted position.

4. A chair according to claim 1 further comprising a pressure impartingarm, hinge means at the upper end of the pressure imparting arm hingedlyconnecting it to the seat frame, a roller journaled to the lower end'ofthe pressure imparting arm, and a pressure plate extending rearwardlyfrom the lower frame, said main pivots being between first said pivotmeans and said further pivot means so that the pressure plate is engagedby the pressure roller only as the frames of said extensible assemblymove towards and into their extended positions.

5. A chair according to claim 4 further comprising a seat back liftspring connected at one end to said pressure imparting arm and at theother end to the rear of the main frame, said link means between theback frame and lower frame being constituted by a link, pivot meansbetween one end of the link and said pressure imparting arm and furtherpivot means between the other end of the link and a downward extensionof said back frame, the seat back lift spring thereby being extended bymovement of the frames of said extensible assembly into their relativeextended recumbent positions.

6. A chair according to claim 2 wherein the link means includes a link,first pivot means pivotally connecting the rear end of the link to adownward extension of the back frame, a second link means including alink arm pivotally connected to the seat frame and extending downwardlytherefrom; further pivot means operatively and pivotally connecting thefront end of the link to the link arm and including a member pivotallyoperatively connecting to the lower frame and to the link arm betweenits connections to the seat frame and to the link; the distance betweensaid first hinge means and said further hinge means being a littlegreater than the distance between said first pivot means and saidfurther pivot means so that the angular relationship between the backframe and lower frame varies by only a small amount as the extensibleassembly moves from an extended to a retracted position.

1. A chair having a seat frame, pivot means connecting the rear end ofthe seat frame to a back frame, further pivot means connecting the frontend of the seat frame to a lower frame, link means between the backframe and the lower frame limiting relative angular relationshiptherebetween upon tilting of the seat frame, a footstool, pivot meansconnecting the footstool to the lower end of the lower frame, link meansbetween the footstool and a said frame limiting angular movement of thefootstool upon tilting of the seat frame, said footstool and framesconstituting an extensible assembly which in its extended position hassaid frames more nearly in alignment than when in its retractedposition, a main support frame, main pivots between the seat frame andthe main support frame, support brackets on the main frame supportingthe seat frame when said extensible assembly is in its retractedposition, a seat frame lifting lever, pivot means pivotally supportingsaid lever on the main frame, means on the lever engaging the undersurface of the seat frame, a tension spring connected at its respectiveends to the lifting lever and the main frame urging the seat frameupwardly and forwardly thereby in turn urging the frames of saidextensible assembly towards their relatively extended positions.
 2. Achair having a seat frame, a back frame, first hinge means connectingthe back frame to the rear end of the seat frame, a lower frame, furtherhinge means connecting the lower frame to the front end of the seatframe to form with the seat and back frames an extensible assembly, linkmeans further interconnecting said frames, a main support frame, mainpivots connecting one of the frames of said extensible assembly to themain support frame, a seat frame lifting lever, pivot means pivotallysupporting said lever on the main frame, means on the lever engaging anunder surface of the seat frame, and spring means connected to thelifting lever and to the main frame to urge the seat frame upwardly andforwardly thereby in turn urging the frames of said extensible assemblytowards their relatively extended positions said link means includes alink, first pivot means pivotally connecting the rear end of the link toa downward extension of the back frame, a second link means including alink arm pivotally connected to the seat frame and extending downwardlytherefrom: further pivot means operatively and pivotally connecting thefront end of the link to the link arm and including a member pivotallyoperatively connecting to the lower frame and to the link arm betweenits connections to the seat frame and to the link; the distance betweensaid first hinge means and said further hinge means being a littlegreater than the distance between said first pivot means and saidfurther pivot means so that the angular relationship between the backframe and lower frame varies by only a small amount as the extensibleassembly moves from an extended to a retracted position.
 3. A chairaccording to claim 1 further comprising support brackets secured to themain frame and positioned to support the seat frame when in itsretracted position, and latch means on the seat frame and main framecooperating to releasably retain the seat frame in its retractedposition.
 4. A chair according to claim 1 further comprising a pressureimparting arm, hinge means at the upper end of the pressure impartingarm hingedly connecting it to the seat frame, a roller journaled to thelower end of the pressure imparting arm, and a pressure plate extendingrearwardly from the lower frame, said main pivots being between firstsaid pivot means and said further pivot means so that the pressure plateis engaged by the pressure roller only as the frames of said extensibleassembly move towards and into their extended positions.
 5. A chairaccording to claim 4 further comprising a seat back lift springconnected at one end to said pressure imparting arm and at the other endto the rear of the main frame, said link means between the back frameand lower frame being constituted by a link, pivot means between one endof the link and said pressure imparting arm and further pivot meansbetween the other end of the link and a downward extension of said backframe, the seat back lift spring thereby being extended by movement ofthe frames of said extensible assembly into their relative extendedrecumbent positions.
 6. A chair according to claim 2 wherein the linkmeans includes a link, first pivot means pivotally connecting the rearend of the link to a downward extension of the back frame, a second linkmeans including a link arm pivotally connected to the seat frame andextending downwardly therefrom; further pivot means operatively andpivotally connecting the front end of the link to the link arm andincluding a member pivotally operatively connecting to the lower frameand to the link arm between its connections to the seat frame and to thelink; the distance between said first hinge means and said further hingemeans being a little greater than the distance between said first pivotmeans and said further pivot means so that the angular relationshipBetween the back frame and lower frame varies by only a small amount asthe extensible assembly moves from an extended to a retracted position.